Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;DLFSCO1&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFSCO1’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems with numerous inflorescences; relatively small decorative pompon-type inflorescences with bright green to white-colored ray florets; and excellent postproduction longevity.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Provisional application Ser. No. 62/761,600

Filed: Mar. 30, 2018

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFSCO1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum X morifolium, commercially grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFSCO1’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-flowering cut Chrysanthemum plants with attractive inflorescences, strong flowering stems and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination on Feb. 9, 2012 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number DB 13579 as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number DB 11343 as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Aug. 20, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings since Aug. 20, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFSCO1’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFSCO1’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Strong upright flowering stems with numerous inflorescences.     -   5. Relatively small decorative pompon-type inflorescences with         bright green to white-colored ray florets.     -   6. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are straight         whereas ray florets of plants of the female parent selection are         reflexed.     -   2. Fully opened ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum         are white in color whereas ray florets of plants of the female         parent selection are light yellow green in color.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Fully opened ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum         are white in color whereas ray florets of plants of the male         parent selection are light yellow in color.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFOLGNE’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘DLFOLGNE’ in flowering habit as plants of the new Chrysanthemum are not as freely flowering as plants of ‘DLFOLGNE’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Chrysanthemum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFSCO1’ grown as a spray-type.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises close-up views of the lower (top of the photographic sheet) and upper surfaces (bottom of the photographic sheet) of typical inflorescences and leaves of ‘DLFSCO1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem plants and were nine weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFSCO1’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code designation DB             13579, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code designation DB             11343, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve             days at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About two             weeks at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous pompon-type cut flower             that is typically grown as a single stem spray-type; upright             plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 77.2             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 81.2 cm.         -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 20.9 cm.         -   Flowering stem length.—About 71.6 cm.         -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Sparsely to moderately             pubescent; slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 144B, at the             internodes, close to 144A.         -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 144A and 146D.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 11.7 cm. Width: About 6.8 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:             Short apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed,             coarsely crenate; sinuses convergent and medium to deep in             depth. Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately             pubescent, not rugose; moderately velvety; very slightly             glossy. Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately             pubescent, prominent venation; slightly velvety; matte.             Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing             leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B. Developing leaves,             lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully developed leaves, upper             surface: Close to NN137A; venation, close to 146B to 146C.             Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;             venation, close to 146B to 146C. Petioles: Length: About             1.8 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm by 3 mm. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface:             Close to 146B; edges, close to NN137B. Color, lower surface:             Close to 146C; edges, close to 137A. Stipules: Quantity and             appearance: Two leafy stipules, opposite, at the petiole             attachment to the stem. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About             7 mm. Shape: Flabellate. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Moderately pubescent; very slightly glossy. Color,             upper surface: Close to NN137A. Color, lower surface: Close             to 147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Pompon-type (decorative) inflorescence form with             obovate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets (disc             florets are inconspicuous); inflorescences borne             perpendicular to peduncles and face mostly upright to             slightly outwardly; ray and disc florets develop acropetally             on a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             50 days later when grown as a spray-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; in             an interior environment, inflorescences and foliage will             maintain good color and substance for about two weeks;             inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit; when             grown as a spray-type, about 20 inflorescences develop per             flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 4.6 cm. Depth (height):             About 2.3 cm. Disc diameter: About 2 mm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145B.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 9 mm. Diameter: About             1.4 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Texture and luster:             Distally, smooth and glabrous; proximally, moderately             pubescent; very slightly glossy. Color: Distally, close to             145B to 145C and at the apex, close to 144C (immature ray             florets); proximally, close to 137B.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 240 arranged in             about eight whorls. Length: About 1.8 cm. Width: About 9 mm.             Shape: Obovate; concave, slightly carinate. Apex: Broadly             acute to shallowly emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire; not undulate. Aspect: Initially upright to about 90°             from vertical. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately velvety; matte. Texture and luster,             lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety;             slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface:             Initially, close to 145B to 145C and at the apex, close to             144C, then close to 157D; towards the base, close to 145B.             When opening, lower surface: Initially, close to 145B to             145C and at the apex, close to 144C, then close to 157C;             towards the base, close to 145B. Fully opened, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to NN155D; towards the base, close to             145B; venation, close to NN155D, color does not change with             development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About five spirally             arranged in one or two whorls at the center of the             receptacle; disc florets inconspicuous. Length: About 5 mm.             Diameter: About 1.25 mm. Shape: Lower 75% fused into a tube;             upper 25% free. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and outer             surfaces: Apex: Close to N144B. Mid-section: Close to 13A to             13B. Base: Close to 145C. Color, fully opened, inner and             outer surfaces: Apex: Close to 154C. Mid-section: Close to             13B to 13C. Base: Close to 145C.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 20             arranged in two whorls. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About             4 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely             pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 143A;             margins, translucent, and close to 145D; apices, close to             N199A. Color, lower surface: Close to 137C; margins,             translucent, close to 145D; apices, close to N199A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 7.5 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 2 mm. Length, third             peduncle: About 8.1 cm. Diameter, terminal peduncle: About             2 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Mostly             upright. Aspect, third peduncle: About 35° from the             flowering stem axis. Texture and luster: Moderately             pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 143A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:             About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther size:             About 0.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther             color: Close to 12B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 14B. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc             florets. Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About             5 mm. Style length: About 4.5 mm. Style color: Close to             N144B. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft,             decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 151D. Ovary color: Close             to 145C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     been observed to be resistant to Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium     oxysporum f. sp. chrysanthemi). To date, resistance to pests and     other pathogens common to Chrysanthemum plants has not been observed     on plants of the new Chrysanthemum grown under commercial     conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFSCO1’ as illustrated and described. 